Monday, January 31, 2011

It's your turn!

I had planned to post my first episode of desk accessories this past weekend. However, due to a combination of business travel, the flu, and seemingly endless snow I simply haven't gotten any time to finish the episodes. But as long as I have electricity this coming weekend, I'll have a new video out. Wait, did I just laugh in the face of the snow gods? OK, enough of my "dog ate my homework" excuses and on to my real reason for this seemingly lame text (hey this text-only blogging thing is a piece of cake!).

I've been hemming and hawing about what my next major project should be for the blog. I've put off commission projects for the time being to focus on my own designs. So while the next piece will continue to focus on and emphasize design, the freedom from commissions also means you - yes YOU - get to be my next client! Vote in the poll, and whichever projects gets the most votes after one week of voting will be the next video project I'll start working on. I will design the project from the ground up, prototype it, and go through the build process hopefully focusing on some unusual tool or technique or two along the way. If there is a particular material you'd love to see used in the project, let me know that too.

Well there's still six more days of voting, but the tool chest has already gotten off to a good lead. I don't want to discourage voting on the other projects though, so consider that second place will likely be the project I build after the tool chest. I am long overdue on a shop project, but I'm sure I'll be itchin' to get back to some furniture when it's done!

I voted for the coffee table because if you don't have one it's inconvenient to watch Rough Cut...I mean, where do you put the chips?? I don't have a coffee table that I'm happy with so it'd be interesting to see what you come up with.

Maybe put a mechanism in it that lifts the table to lap level? Then you can put your food and laptop and monitor Tweetdeck...

My second vote would be for the tool chest. Make sure it's got room for future tools!

I went with coffee table. I'd like to see ya do as much as possible with self sawn veneers. That's coming up for me and I figured you can deal with some of the problems I'll face before I have to. Am I really that self centered? CHA!!

Interesting, the coffee table hasn't gotten much support in the popular vote, but a lot of attention from the write-in's. I wonder if I should weight votes more heavily if they have thoughtful detailed comments associated with them.... In all seriousness, this is great feedback to get an idea of what people want to see.

Very interesting as I voted for the coffee table before reading the comments. I'm surprised the tool chest is getting such play. It seems as if we would be tool chested out by now. (says the guy who is building one for his hand tool school final project) LOL

I have enjoyed following your builds. They have been very interesting. I voted for the Tool Chest because the next project I build will be a tool chest to go under the work bench with drawers. I would still call it a chest not a cabinet with drawers.

I voted for the tool chest and recommend that you take a look at the one Tommy built on the 207. Once I get back into my shop, I plan to build one myself out of Peruvian Walnut(casework) and figured maple (drawer fronts). I'd love to see how you do yours. I could learn a few things.

I have been giving some thought to the tool chest design. There are a lot of traditional tool chest designs and plans out there so I'm thinking of doing something new and different. I also want to build something that could double as a keepsake chest or conversation piece just as well as a tool chest. I'm still early in the process but have some ideas in mind. I hope to post the plans in another week or two and then get started on the build.

Just found you from the Wood Whisperer. Bro you are awesome. I am enjoying your videos. Very beginner. I am making a cabinet for my brother in-law and discovered I like it. Can't wait to move onto other projects.